24-2-2024 (SIGNAPORE) Dante Chen, a professional wrestler from Singapore, has made history by becoming the first Singaporean to appear on WWE’s SmackDown program. The 28-year-old wrestler, known by his ring name Dante Chen, achieved this milestone on the 23rd of February during the latest edition of WWE SmackDown.
Chen’s debut on SmackDown comes approximately 2.5 years after he made his first appearance on WWE’s NXT program, where he defeated his opponent in under a minute. However, his SmackDown debut took a different turn, as he was pinned by his opponent after approximately 1.5 minutes.
Despite the outcome, Chen expressed his excitement about being the first Singaporean to join the main roster of WWE’s SmackDown program, referring to it as a “history-setting moment.” The match took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Chen faced off against Bron Breakker, who was also previously signed to NXT.
Throughout the match, Chen appeared to be the underdog, with his larger opponent dominating him. Despite his efforts to reverse the situation, Chen was ultimately defeated by Bron Breakker, who secured the victory with a Spear move.
HCTP. ????????
Although the outcome was unfavourable, it was still another history-setting moment of my own by wrestling my first match on SmackDown and being the first Singaporean to do so. ????????
Achieve whatever you want and stay hungry. ????#SmackDown #WeAreNXT #DanteChen #ChenUp pic.twitter.com/X7f6uZfq1R
— Dante Chen (@DanteChenWWE) February 24, 2024
Following his debut, Chen took to social media to reflect on his experience and motivate his fans. He described the moment as historic and encouraged his followers to stay determined and pursue their goals.
Chen gained significant attention in 2021 when he became the first Singaporean to join the WWE roster, marking a significant milestone not only for himself but also for the entire Southeast Asian region. Prior to his WWE career, Chen spent nearly a decade in the Singapore Pro Wrestling circuit, competing under the name Trexxus.
While it remains unclear whether Chen is officially signed to SmackDown, WWE’s website still lists him as an NXT talent.
